Echeveria plant named &#39;TSAECH1806&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Echeveria plant named ‘TSAECH1806’ which is characterized by a dark brown to near-black rosette of succulent foliage which is centered green, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2018/0956, filed Apr. 6, 2018, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘TSAECH1806’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘TSAECH1806’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of an unnamed and unpatented Echeveria affinisplant, the seed parent, with an unnamed and unpatented Echeveriaatropurpurea plant, the pollen parent. The crossing was made by theinventor in the spring of 2015 at a commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2016, one seedlingresulting from said cross of 2015 was observed to exhibit unique growthand foliage characteristics and was isolated for further evaluation inorder to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristicsfirst observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability,‘TSAECH1606’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘TSAECH1806’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe spring of 2017 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through three subsequent generations,the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and trueto type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TSAECH1806’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘TSAECH1806’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘TSAECH1806’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘TSAECH1806’ exhibits long, obovate to oblanceolate succulent        foliage arranged in a stemless basal rosette; and    -   2. ‘TSAECH1806’ exhibits a rosette of foliage which is dark        brown to near-black foliage, suffused with greyed-purple, and        centered yellow-green; and    -   3. ‘TSAECH1806’ exhibits slightly concave foliage; and    -   4. ‘TSAECH1806’ exhibits foliage which becomes darker, with less        yellow-green coloration at the base, when exposed to high levels        ultraviolet light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘TSAECH1806’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted ina 10.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘TSAECH1806.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of thejuvenile and mature foliage of ‘TSAECH1806’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage of ‘TSAECH1806’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in December of 2018describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 months old‘TSAECH1806’ plants grown in 10.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘TSAECH1806’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘TSAECH1806’ and comparisons with the parentplants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            stemless basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—5.2 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 16.2 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —            Approximately 30 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a            10.5 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 30 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Obovate to oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—7.7 cm long, 2.4 cm wide, and 0.6 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concave and slightly curved upwards.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is            held outward; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorls of mature foliage, at an average            angle of 15 degrees to horizontal.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Long cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; lightly undulated.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and glossy; glaucous.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and gloss; glaucous.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Brown, nearest to            RHS 200A, and transitioning to yellow-green towards the            base, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B, 145C, and 145D; the            epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is brown, nearest            to RHS 200B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Brown,            nearest to RHS 200B, and transitioning to yellow-green            towards the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145B, 145C,            and 145D; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is            brown, nearest to RHS 200B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface            — Brown, nearest to in between RHS 200A and 200B, and            lightly suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C;            transitioning to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to            RHS 147D; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is            brown, nearest to RHS 200B. Mature foliage, abaxial surface            — Greyed-brown, nearest to RHS 187A, and lightly suffused            with brown, nearest to RHS 200B; transitioning to            yellow-green towards the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS            148C and 148D; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf            surface is brown, nearest to RHS 200B.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.

INFLORESCENCE

No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1806’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Echeveria affinis plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘TSAECH1806’ Seed parent Growth habit. Lesscompact. More compact. General coloration Less yellow-green is Moreyellow-green is of the foliage. present at the leaf present at the leafbase; less green color- base; more green color- ation at the center ofation at the center of the rosette. the rosette.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1806’ differ from the pollen parent,an unnamed Echeveria atropurpurea plant (not patented), in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘TSAECH1806’ Pollen parent Growth habit. Stemlessrosette. Foliage born on a stem. Foliage aspect. Slightly concave andStrongly concave and slightly curved upwards. strongly curved upwards.Foliage length. Longer than the pollen Shorter than parent.‘TSAECH1806’. General coloration Generally appearing as Generallyappearing as a of the foliage. dark brown to black, mixture of brown andsuffused with greyed- dark red. purple. Foliage, margin No distinctmargin Very thinly margined color. coloration. white.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TSAECH1806’ differ from the closest knowncommercial comparator, the common form of Echeveria sp. ‘Black Prince’(not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 3below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘TSAECH1806’ ‘Black Prince’ Growth habit.Stemless rosette. Foliage born on a stem. Foliage shape. Slightlyconcave and Strongly concave and slightly curved upwards. stronglycurved upwards. Foliage dimensions. Longer and more narrow Shorter andbroader than than ‘Black Prince’. ‘TSAECH1806’. General colorationGenerally appearing as Generally appearing as a of the foliage. darkbrown to black, mixture of dark brown to suffused with greyed- black andred. purple.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaplant named ‘TSAECH1806’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.